Marine Nationale stretched away from favorite Facile Vega to land an excellent renewal of the Sky Guess Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on the Cheltenham Competition.
Talked up within the build-up by a particularly assured coach Barry Connell, the six-year-old was despatched off at 9/2 for the curtain-raiser below jockey Michael O’Sullivan.
Joseph O’Brien’s Excessive Definition and Charlie Longsdon’s Uncommon Version set the tempo, with Facile Vega (9/4) settling in midfield amid considerations of a repeat of the over-racing type which noticed him blow out on the Dublin Racing Competition final month.
Paul Townend seemed to be travelling properly turning for residence and delivered Facile Vega to the entrance, however all of the whereas Marine Nationale posed a hazard on the surface, stretching over three lengths clear to the road.
Facile Vega got here residence in second, forward of stablemate Diverge, whereas Henry de Bromhead’s Inthepocket separated one other Mullins pair in Il Etait Temps and Darkish Raven.
Marine Nationale and Michael O’Sullivan amongst a sea of racegoers after profitable the Supreme
The victory – which made it 5 out of 5 for Marine Nationale – could possibly be the beginning of an excellent double for Connell and O’Sullivan with the identical connections represented by Good Land in Wednesday’s Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.
“I instructed the entire of Eire to again him and Good Land within the Ballymore,” Connell instructed RacingTV. “If I might received it unsuitable, I might must have worn a disguise on the boat residence.
“I genuinely thought I had the perfect horse in each races so why not say it?
The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle subject head off in the direction of the packed Cheltenham grandstands
“This horse might win a Group One on the Flat – he is the quickest horse I’ve ever educated.
“He’ll be again right here for the Arkle subsequent 12 months. If Structure Hill wasn’t round, you’d take into consideration the Champion Hurdle.”
